Summer is officially here, and I’m excited to be spending the summer in Vancouver.  I know lately I have been writing about the past and what the future is going to bring, rather than focusing on the present. I figured it was time to give you all an update on what I’ve been up to in Vancouver since the school year ended. In one of my last posts, I mentioned I am working in downtown Vancouver at the Port of Vancouver for the summer, and I was hoping to be able to explore Vancouver some more. I definitely have had the chance to do so thus far, and I’m excited that I have the rest of the summer to continue to explore!

Here are some of the highlights so far:

Boat Tours

I had the opportunity to get out on the water along the Fraser River and in the Burrard Inlet. Seeing downtown Vancouver and the communities along the River from the water provided a unique perspective. It was a great experience, and I was able to capture some incredible photos! Hopefully I can go back out again sometime soon, or who knows, maybe my next sight-seeing trip will be from the air instead of the water!

Lower Mainland

I have been able to explore a few different communities throughout the Lower Mainland for work. I explored New Westminster’s downtown after getting out on the river, and checked out one of their local museums, which was great. I saw some historic sights in Steveston, in Richmond, by visiting the Cannery and Britannia Shipyards. It was so interesting to learn a bit more history about this community. I visited Ladner in Delta for their historic May Days festival as well, which was really interesting, as I had never attended a May Days celebration before. I also briefly visited Burnaby and Coquitlam, but am hoping to get the chance to explore them some more, especially because I like taking the SkyTrain so much! (Can you tell I’m from a small town?) There is plenty of time left this summer, so I am sure I will be able to see more of these communities!

Downtown Vancouver

I have explored downtown Vancouver quite a bit, as I am working there, right next to the water. I really enjoy being next to the ocean. Having grown up surrounded by lakes, the ocean is comforting and yet, something new to adjust to. Sometimes it is strange to think that I am now living right on the coast! It is nice to explore different areas of Vancouver that are situated right on the water. I have explored Granville Island a bit, which is one of my favourite areas to explore, and I hope to be able to visit it more throughout the summer. I’ve also visited the Vancouver Aquarium and Stanley Park, which was really fun to explore, since I haven’t visited these places in many years. I also have spent quite a bit of time in Yaletown, checking out restaurants in the area. And of course, in Kitsilano I head to the beach to catch the sunsets, which are absolutely breathtaking. I don’t think I could ever get tired of watching these sunsets every night. Luckily I will be able to do so for the rest of the summer, and hopefully in to the fall!

All in all, it has been a great start to the summer in Vancouver. It is so weird to think that this summer is the first summer I have spent outside of the Okanagan! But change is good, and I am enjoying exploring new places and meeting new people. That said, I am planning to visit the Okanagan a few times this summer (I need to get my wine fix in!), so stay tuned for updates on that as well. I am sure the next couple of months are going to bring a lot more exploring of Vancouver too! Thanks for following along for #chiaratakesvancouver and check out my Instagram for more regular updates of my adventures.